May
Why teetotallers are such a drag (on the economy)
From an economic thinker’s point of view, teetotalism is an incoherent and damaging ideology.
April
‘People don’t have to do that’: PM questions public holiday surcharges
Anthony Albanese questions cafes applying surcharges up to 15 per cent on Sundays and long weekends. The industry says it’s either that or don’t open.
Spotlight’s new Anaconda will teach shoppers to fish
The privately owned large-format retail group will also offer tinnies moored to a life-sized jetty and a cold room for Queenslanders to try on puffer jackets.
CBA and Westpac mull removing numbers from their credit cards
Australia is expected to be the first major market to embrace numberless credit cards in the next two years, according to Mastercard.
March
Canada’s oldest retailer to begin liquidating most stores
Hudson’s Bay Co, which was founded in 1670, is the longest continuously operating company in North America and pre-dates Canada itself.
February
Vicinity’s bet that bigger is better brings higher in-store spending
The listed mall landlord reported that the leasing spreads for its premium centres are 320 basis points higher than its portfolio average.
January
Cost-of-living crunch leaves shoppers buying ‘an item not an outfit’
Retailers are banking on interest rate cuts and election promises to boost consumer spending, but experts warn the benefits may take time to filter through.
December 2024
People pleasing cost me $32,000. Here are four ways to stop it
Since people pleasing is a personality trait, dialling back your spending requires more than learning the nuts and bolts of money management.
November 2024
Fashion retailer The Iconic plots recovery, one Samba at a time
The boss of the popular fashion app is aiming to restore sales growth and shrink its net loss after a tough 12 months. But the field is getting crowded.
October 2024
Labor is killing Victoria’s economy: Dutton
Western Australia topped CommSec’s latest State of the States report, which tracks key economic indicators to determine which jurisdiction is performing best.
‘A tax on jobs’: Cafes, bars, restaurants going belly up in Victoria
Independent economist Saul Eslake warns that a rise in hospitality insolvencies indicates the health of the Victorian economy is ‘deteriorating’.
Rockpool won’t change if lenders stay out of the kitchen: Perry
Quadrant Private Equity has sold the hospitality empire that grew out of celebrity chef Neil Perry’s high-profile steak restaurant.
Aurizon investors impatient for Top End contracts
Aurizon is in “regular” talks with potential customers for its ambitious land bridge scheme, but scepticism abounds over whether it can pull the bold plan off.
Warm weather lifts spending on booze, gardening and camping gear
Retail sales may have finally turned a corner, as unseasonably warm weather pumped up demand for products normally bought in spring.
September 2024
Real diamonds can’t cut it as cost crunch hits lovebirds
The cost of engagement rings can jump by hundreds of dollars in a week, says jeweller Rachel Lake, leading to greater interest in sapphires and lab-grown diamonds.
Treasurer v the RBA: Why Chalmers and Bullock are both right
Jim Chalmers says the economy is getting smashed by high rates, but it’s still running too hot for the RBA. The answer is simple: productivity.
August 2024
Date night swapped for meal kits as consumers feel the pinch
“We have cut back on everything,” says Alexis Hurditch, who now prefers to spend Friday night eating meals kits at home rather than heading out to a restaurant.
Two-speed economy exposes the great Australian divide
The gap has widened between younger and older Australians, small and large businesses, and resources-rich Western Australia and the east.
Flat convenience spend, rising costs hit Charter Hall retail REIT
Charter Hall Retail REIT starts 2024-25 on a downbeat note after issuing soft earnings guidance, but its distribution will stay intact.
US retail sales beat forecasts as consumers shake off price rises
The report showcases a consumer that’s holding up despite higher borrowing costs, a cooling labour market and an uncertain economic outlook.